Table construction



Dec. 1, 1959 L. F. SINCLAIR TABLE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 23, 1959 INVENTOR. LOU F. SINCLAIR Dec. 1, 1959 Filed March 25,1959 L. F. SINCLAIR TABLE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LOU F. SINCLAIR United States Patent TABLE CONSTRUCTION Lou F. Sinclair,North Miami Beach, Fla., assignor to giltmore Mfg. Co., Miami, Fla., acorporation of l lorida Application March 23, 1959, Serial No. 801,121

5 Claims. (Cl. 311-114) This invention relates in general to tableconstruction and more particularly to tables and other furniture andfixtures constructed for assembly with a screw driver only.

Tables prior to this invention usually were dependent upon a wide apronfor securing the top and legs thereto or were encumbered with bracing ofquestionable rigidity and unsightly appearance together with relativelyhigh cost of manufacture, and in the case of tables havingnondemountable legs, required large and bulky shipping containers.

The present invention overcomes the above objections and disadvantagesby the provision of a simple planar top member framed in a relativelynarrow mitred ornamental frame with a novel corner support means adaptedto retain the frame in rigid relation to the top and to rigidly retaindemountable legs thereto by the use of simple, unobtrusive threadedscrew fasteners, which construction is the principal object of theinvention.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rigidized cornerplate for fastening the corner of a mitred frame and supporting a planartop member of uniform thickness therein.

2 v I A cylindrical boss 9 having internal threads 10 is cantrallyextruded from the recess 8 as shown. The plate 7 includes a pair ofdivergent arms 11--11 having an included angle therebetween of 90degrees. Threaded holes 1515 in the plate 7 are symmetrically positionedv as shown for the assembly of the aforementioned frame.

Another object of the invention is the provision of A a rigidized framehaving mitred corners made from linear extruded metal having channelstherein for retaining a table top member and a corner plate adapted toreceive and rigidly hold de-mountable legs having screw means in one endthereof.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of theinvention are described and shown in the appended specification anddrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical table in reduced scale.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of the components in the tableshown Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of one of the corners of the tableshown Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a frame member shown Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation taken through section line5-5, Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 a table having a top member 1 of uniform thicknessis retained in a frame consisting of four lengths of rigid ornamentalchannels 2 mitred at both ends thereof as shown. A corner plate to behereinafter described is adapted to secure said channels, support saidtop and engage legs 3 by screw means in the ends thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2 each channel 2 is preferably made from extrudedmetal of uniform cross section and having an internal configuration asshown in which a tongue 4 and lip 5 form a linear rectangular slot 18.The upper side of the channel forms a rectangular opening for retainingthe edge of the top 1.

A corner plate 7 preferably stamped from flat sheet steel of uniformthickness has a circular recess formed therein for providing an offsetsurface 8 parallel thereto.

Referring to Fig. 3 each arm 11 is inserted in the slot 18 formed byprojection 4 and lip 5 and the lower leg of the channel in the junctionend portions of channels 2-2 as shown, with a portion of the lip 5 cutaway in the channels as shown Fig. 4 providing for clearance of the bodyof plate 7.

A counter-sunk hole 16 is provided in the end portion of each channelfor the insertion of screws 17-17 which are threaded into hole 15-15 inthe plate 7. The vertical assembly of each corner of the table isillustrated in Fig. 5. The top 1 is snugly retained between theupstanding projections 12, 13 and 14 and the overhanging upper leg ofthe channel 2. Fig. 5 also illustrates the attachment of the legs toeach corner of the table by means of a screw means 19 of each legthreaded into the boss 9 in each of the plates.

It is apparent that this construction lends itself to use of thin tabletops of different thickness by providing corresponding projections 12,13 and 14 of appropriate length.

It is also apparent that the corner structure is exceedingly rigid andresistant to stress by virtue of the lockedin engagementof arms 11-11 inchannels 18 and by virtue of the rigidity of plate 7 due to the bracingeffect of the circular depression therein which depression also providesclearance for the upstanding boss of sufficient length to includesufiicient threads to resist stripping.

It is now apparent that the construction above described is useful forframing windows, mirrows, cabinet doors and the like with the omissionof the extruded boss 9.

It is to be noted that the above described construction is applicable toa wide variety of frame shapes, such as triangular or other polygons byusing corner plates with arms made with corresponding included angles.

Certain other modifications in construction retaining the features abovedescribed are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A table construction comprising a rectangular planar top of uniformthickness, a plate means at each corner of said top spaced in parallelrelation to the under surface thereof, by a plurality of integralupturned projections including a pair of integral divergent retainingarms, four U shaped frame members having a pair of co-linear parallelchannels therein of uniform cross section forming a frame for retainingsaid top by the outer edges thereof in one of said channels and forretaining said arms in the other of said channels at each side of thejunctions of said members with said projections supporting said top inupper portion of the said first mentioned channel, screw means in oneside of each said member engaged with each of said arms for securingsaid members in rigid relation.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a portion of each saidplate offset therefrom forming a parallel surface including a threadedboss normal thereto, a table leg having screw means in the upper endthereof threaded in each said boss with the said end against each saidparallel surface forming a table.

3. In a table construction of the character described a planar table tophaving a plurality of sides, a like plurality of frame members havinglike channel means therein for retaining the edges of said sides andlike plurality of corner plates, a like plurality of table legs havingscrew means in the upper ends thereof, a corner plate having a pair ofdivergent arms for securing each of said members to said top at thejunctions thereof, each of said pair of arms positioned in said channelmeans and secured to the end portion of each of said members at the saidjunctions, an offset portion in said plate having thread means thereinfor retaining and rigidlysupporting said legs threaded thereto.

4. 'In a table of the character described a corner constructioncomprising a corner portion of a planar table top having a predetermineddivergent angle between the edges thereof, the junction portion of apair of frame members having a pair of channels therein and retainingthe said edges of said top in one of said channels, a corner platehaving a pair of arms extending therefrom congruent to said angle witheach of said arms projecting into said other channel in each of saidmembers for securing said members at said junction, said plate having aplurality of spaced projections extending equi-distant from and normalthereto positioned against the under side of said top for supportingsame in the upper portion of said first mentioned channel, screw meansthrough each of said members threaded into said plate for locking saidmembers together.

5. The construction recited in claim 4 including an oifset portion insaid plate With an outer surface parallel thereto and having a centralthreaded boss therein for rigidizing said plate and retaining a tableleg threaded therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS383,167 Brougher May 22, 1888 1,726,362 Grsenigo Aug. 27, 1929 2,783,112Slater Feb. 26, 1957 2,886,388 Perimutter May 12, 1959 2,895,777 UrbanJuly 21, 1959

